Vacuum cleaner with nozzle and dust separating means in a common housing



A. H. FULLER Nov`. 18, 1952 2,618,007 VACUUM CLEANER WITH NozZLE AND DUST SEPARATING MEANS 1N A COMMON HOUSING Filed April. 26', 1947 INVENToR. 4L/FRED /fz/uff? BYJ T HNEY Nov. 18, 1952 Filed April 26, 1947 A. VACUUM CLEANER WITH NOZZLE AND DUST SEPARATING MEANS IN A COMMON HOUSING H FULLER 2,618,007

v3 Sheets-Sheet 2 92 0 IN V EN TOR.

Aung/v. FULL R BY )JL M .NOV. 18, 1952 A FULLER 2,618,007

VACUUM CLEANER WITH NOZZLE AND DUST SEPARATING MEANS IN A COMMON HOUSING Filed April 26. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented YNov. 18, ,Y 1952 VACUUM CLEANER WITH NOZZLE AND DUST SEPARATIN G MEANS IN A COM- MON HOUSING Alfred H. Fuller, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Fuller Brush Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Applicatign April 26, 1947, Serial No. 744,066

7 Claims.

The invention relates particularly to vacuum cleaners of the type wherein the floor engaging nozzle is carried directly by a housing movable along the floor. The principal object of the invention is to provide in a vacuum cleaner of the Vstated type a simple and compact arrangement of parts wherein the dust separating means is located entirely within the main housing. The dustI separating means is preferably a porous bag and when such a bag is provided it is located within the housing with its axis substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with the nozzle.

A further object of the invention is to provide various details of structure and arrangement by which the said more general object is attained.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the drawings and from the following Vdescription'and claims.

In thel drawings I have shown in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction shown, and that the drawings are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a right side view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Figj5 is a sectional view taken 5-5'of Fig. 3. Y

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectionall views similar respectively to Figs. 3 and 4 but showing a hose connection in lieu of a handle.

Referring to the drawings, I0 is a casing or housing which is generally rectangular in plan. The main body of the housing is preferably a casting of an aluminum alloy or other suitable light metal. The housing is supported by means of floor engaging wheels l2, I2 and I4, I4. Extending transversely of the casing near the front is a substantially vertical wall I6 which cooperates with the front wall I8 to provide a downward directed nozzle 20.

Extending transversely of the housing behind the wall I6 is a substantially vertical wall 22 which constitutes the front boundary of a chamber 24, the said chamber being bounded at the rear by the rear wall 26 of the housing, at the sides yby the side walls of the housing, and at the along the line top by the top Wall of the housing. The chamber is closed at the bottom by a separate sheet metal plate 28 which is suitably secured to the walls 22 and 26 and to the side walls. The chamber 24 is preferably a vacuum chamber and a vacuum is maintained therein by means of a motor and fan unit 36. The unit 30 is centrally positioned with its axis extending longitudinally and preferably somewhat inclined, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The unit 33 extends through and closely ts an aperture in the transverse wall 22. The fan 32 of the unit 30 is preferably at the rear, and when the motor of the unit is operated the fan is rotated to withdraw air from the chamber 24 and deliver it through the unit to the space at the front of the wall 22.

Positioned in the chamber 24 is a suitable dust separating means, this means preferably being a generally cylindrical porous bag 34. The length of the dust bag is substantially greater than its diameter. The bag 34 is closed at its left end and is open at its right end. It will be observed that the bag 34 is located entirely within the main housing l0 and is arranged with its axis horizontal and parallel with the transverse nozzle 20. 'Ihe right wallof the housing has an opening corresponding in size to that of the bag 34, the edges of the bag engaging the periphery of the opening. The said opening in the side wall of the housing is normally closed by a hinged cover 36, this cover being normally held in closed position by a manually operable latch 38. The end of the bag 34 is provided with an annular flange which is engaged by the cover 36 when in closed position, the cover thus serving to hold the bag in place. When the'cover 36 is opened the bag 34 can be readily removed for cleaning or replacement.

Means is provided for guiding air from the nozzle 2D to the interior of the dust bag 34. The said air guiding means preferably comprises ducts chiefly within the housing and formed integrally therewith. As shown, there is a main duct 44 which extends upward and rearward from the nozzle 20, the upper wall of the duct being the top wall of the housing. In order to provide sufcent space for the motor-fan unit 30, the main duct 40 preferably comprises two branches 42, v42 which are at opposite sides of the motor-fan unit. The main duct 4B communicates at its rear with a transverse duct 44. The air guiding means also includes a recess 45 in the cover 36 and the transverse duct 44 communicates with this recess 45. The cover 36 has an inn-er'wall 46 with an opening therein which may be of the same size as the cover, and it is this wall that engages the flange on the bag. The recess 45 is formed between the outer wall of the cover and the said inner wall 46. The wall 46 has an opening 41 therein with which the transverse duct 44 communicates. It Wil1 be seen that when the fan 32 is rotated to maintain a vacuum in the chamber 24, a flow of air is established from the nozzle through the main duct 48, through the transverse duct 44, through opening 41 and the recess 45 land through the pores of the dust bag 34 into the vacuum chamber 24. Thus dust from the nozzle is withdrawn into the bag and there separated from the air.

A transverse rotatable brush is preferably provided in the nozzle 20 and as shown, the brush comprises two separate units 48, 48. The brush is so positioned that it projects slightly beyond the bottom of the nozzle so as to engage the oor. The details of the brush and of its mounting constitute no part of the present invention but as shown, the brush units are `provided at their opposite ends with spring-pressed bearing pintles 50, 50 which engage bearing blocks 52, 52 carried by the side walls of the housing. For rotating the brush there is provided a Vworm wheel 54 positioned between the two `brush sections 48, 48, this worm wheel 54 being engaged by va worm 56 on lthe shaft of the motor and fan unit 3B.

The before-mentioned housing supporting wheels l2, l2 are positioned at the front of the dust bag 34 and are connected with the housing by-means of inward projecting bearing pins 51,51. The wheels l2, -l2 are enclosed inhoods 58 and r59 which are open at the bottom and whicharepreferably formed integrally with Ythe housing l0. The bottom plate 28 is shaped `to lit around the contours ofr the hoods .5B and 59. The .beforementioned wheels I4, i4 are positioned at the rear ofthe dust .bag 34 and .preferably theyare vertically adjustable .with respect .to the housing so that upon vertical adjustment .of the wheels the .housing is rockedabouttheaXis of the ,wheels l2.l2 to change the relationship ofthe brush Vto the floor.. The .wheels 1.4, i4 are mounted Vonatransverse pin-6l! whichengages two blocks 62, G2 spaced at equal distances from the longitudinal center line. Each .block 6.2 'is secured .to a vertically movable pin .6.4 and springs iigareprovided for biasing the blocks .for relative downward movement. The blocks` 52 have ratchet teeth formed thereinat theY rear and two pivoted latches 5863 eachhaving ,a tooth forengagement withthe ratchet .teeth of the corresponding block.v The latches 68., '58 are connected for movement in unison andthey are controlledby a spring-pressedfinger piece 10. The center of gravity of the vacuum cleaner wis behind the axis of the wheels l2, I2 andwhen the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 4, the brush is in its lowermost position with respect to the oor. By pressing downward on the rear end of the housing the springs 66 maybe compressed, the latches E8 engaging lower teeth on the blocks 52. Thus the brush can be raised with respect to the floor. In fact, by pressing the casing downward suihciently to cause the latches B8 to engage the lowermost notches in the blocks 82, the brush may be raised so as to be entirely out of engagement with the floor. The brush may be lowered by moving the nger piece 18 to release the blocks 62 for relative downwardV movement.

The'vacuum cleaner may be provided with a handle 12 by means of which it may be moved lalong the licor to electcleaning. Preferably, the

rear end of the main duct 40 terminates in arl opening in the rear Wall of the housing, and the handle 12 is pivotally connected with a tubular member 14 adapted to be inserted in the said rear opening. The tubular member 14 may be held in place by an automatically engaging manually releasable latch 16. As will be apparent from Fig. 3, the tubular member 14 is open at the front and has a transverse wall 18 therein which is adjacent the rear edge of the transverse .duct 44. The tubular member 14 has an opening 80 which provides communication with the said transverse duct. 1t will be seen that when the handle 12 and the tubular member 14 are in place, communication is established from the main duct 4i) to the transverse duct 44 to enable the vacuum cleaner to operate in the manner already described.

It is sometimes desirable to attach a hose 82 which may be provided with a nozzle at its outer end in accordance with conventional practice. When such a -hose is to be attached the handle 12 and its tubular member 14 are removed and a tubular member 84 attached to .the -hose is inserted in lieu of the tubular member l14, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The tubular member 84 is held in place by a latch 86 similar to the latch 16. The tubular member B4 is open at its outer end where it communicates with the hose. It is closed at or near its inner end by a wall 88 therein and it is provided with an opening 80 which communicates with the transverse duct 44. It will be seen that when the hose 82 and the tubular member 84 are in place air enters the transverse duct 44 from the hose rather than from the mainl duct 48 which is connected with the nozzle. Thus cleaning can be effected by means of the nozzle attached to the hose, the air being drawn through the dust bag for dust separation in the manner already described.

`It vwill be seen that the interchangeable tubular members 14 and 84 constitute means associated with the rear end of the main duct and with the inner end of the transverse duct for establishing communication to the latter either from the main duct or from the exterior of the housing.

Preferably the space near the front between the walls I6 and 22 is closed atfthe bottom by a sheet metal plate 32. The chamber thus formed may be regarded as a pressure chamber and it has an opening 94 at one side thereof through which the air is discharged. If desired, a'blower hose 96 may be connected at the openingv94 as indicated in Fig. 1.

-From the foregoing description it will be lapparent that Ithe vacuum cleaner embodying the invention is simple and compact and has numerous advantages. The dust bag is enclosed Within the main housing, and itsV position is such that a relativelylarge bag can be usedl in a relatively small housing. -This is due to the arrangement with the axis of thevbaghorizontal and parallel Vwith the nozzle and brush. The motor-fan unit is located within the casing and at the rear of the nozzle and brush and at the front of the'dust bag. This places the motor in such a position that a simple and direct power connection to the brush may-be provided, and it places the fan within the forward part of the vacuum chamber. The interchangeable handle and hose provide for cleaning-in the conventional manner by means of the nozzle and brush or by meansof a nozzle onzthe lhose,and

this is accomplished without any separate valve for changing the air connections.

The invention claimed is: y

1. The combination in a vacuum cleaner, of a housing provided with a transverse downward directed nozzle near its front end, floor engaging means for supporting the housing, a transverse porous dust bag having its length substantially greater than its diameter, the said dust bag being located entirely within the housing with its axis substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with the nozzle, a motor within the housing at the rear of the nozzle and at the front of the dust bag, a fan within the housing adjacent the motor and driven thereby, and air guiding means associated with the fan for causing air withdrawn by the fan from the nozzle to be directed into the interior of the dust bag at one side of the housing, the said air guiding means including a main duct extending upward from the nozzle and then rearward along the -top of the housing and also including a duct communicating with the rear portion of the main duct and extending therefrom transversely to one end of lthe dust bag at one side of the housing.

2. The combination in a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim l, wherein the motor is centrally located and wherein the main `duct has two branches at opposite sides of the motor.

3. The combination in a vacuum cleaner, of a housing which is generally rectangular in plan and the main portion of which is a casting, the said housing being provided at its front with a transverse downward directed nozzle extending substantially from side lto side thereof and having near its rear a vacuum chamber extending substantially from side to side thereof and the main portion of said housing having lan integral transverse wall therein extending from side to side thereof and located vbetween the nozzle and the vacuum chamber which wall has a central aperture therein, floor engaging means for supporting the housing, a transverse porous dust bag located entirely within the vacuum chamber and extending substantially from side to side thereof, the length of the dust bag being substantially greater than its diameter and the axis of the dust bag being horizontal and substantially parallel with the nozzle, a motor and fan unit within the housing and separate therefrom and surrounded thereby which unit is at the front of the dust bag and extends through and closely ts the aperture in the said transverse wall, the fan of the said unit serving to withdraw air through the unit to the front of the transverse wall so as to maintain a vacuum within the vacuum chamber, and means for guiding air from Ithe nozzle to the interior of the dust bag at one side of the housing.

4. A vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for guiding air includes a Ymain duct integral with the main portion of the stantially from one side thereof to the other which chamber has an opening at one side, oor engaging means for supporting the housing, a transverse porous dust bag located entirely within the said chamber in the housing with its axis substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with the nozzle, the edges of the bag engaging the periphery of the said opening at one side of the chamber, a motor within the housing at the rear of the nozzle and at the front of the dust bag, a fan within the housing driven by the motor, an openable cover for `the said opening in the side of the chamber which cover has an interior recess therein communicating with the interior of the bag, and means associated with the fan for guiding air upward and then rearward from the nozzle and into the recess in the cover.

6. The combination in a vacuum cleaner as set forth in claim 5, wherein there is a main duct within the housing and integral with the main portion thereof and extending upward and rearward from the nozzle along the top of the housing and wherein there is a transverse duct integral with the main portion of the housing and communicating at one end with the rear oi. the main duct and communicating at the other end with the recess in the cover.

'7. The combination in a vacuum cleaner, of a housing provided with a transverse downward directed nozzle near one end and having therein behind the nozzle a vacuum chamber extending substantially from one side thereof to the other which chamber has an opening at one side, iioor engaging means for supporting the housing, a transverse porous dust bag located entirely within the said vacuum chamber with its axis substantially horizontal and substantially parallel with the nozzle, the edges of the bag engaging the periphery of the said opening at one side of the chamber, a motor within the housing at the rear of the nozzle and at the front of the dust bag, a fan within the housing driven by the motor and serving to maintain a vacuum within the vacuum chamber, an openable cover for the said opening in the side of the chamber which cover has an interior recess therein cornmunicating with the interior of the bag, and means for guiding air upward and then rearward from the nozzle and transversely into the recess in the cover.

ALFRED H. FULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,506,858 Orr Sept. 2, 1924 1,507,271 Bennett Sept. 2, 1924 1,556,021 Orr Oct. 6, 1925 2,044,830 Carlstedt June 23, 1936 2,340,379 Hahn Feb. 1, 1944 2,475,808 Storm July 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 129,556 Switzerland Jan. 2, 1929 296,978 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1929 426,361 Germany Mar. 10, 1926 488,452 Great Britain July 7, 1938 503,630 Germany July 24, 1930 

